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ATI MED SURG GASTROINTESTINAL 2026
FINAL EXAM REVIEW COMPLETE (50)
CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS|GUARANTEED PASS.
GASTROINTESTINAL
Prepare confidently for the ATI Med Surg Gastrointestinal final Exam
review with targeted questions covering highest-yield
gastrointestinal concepts: GERD, peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory
bowel disease (Crohn’s & ulcerative colitis), diverticulitis,
appendicitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis. Designed to improve clinical
understanding and boost confidence in gastrointestinal nursing care.
Suitable for nursing and healthcare students.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Questions 1–50
1. A patient with GERD asks about lifestyle changes. Which
recommendation should the nurse make first?
A) Sleep flat on the back
B) Avoid eating 3 hours before bedtime
C) Increase intake of caffeinated beverages
D) Lie down immediately after meals
Answer: B. Avoid eating 3 hours before bedtime
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Explanation: Lying down soon after eating increases reflux.
Elevating the head of the bed and avoiding late meals are key.
2. A patient with a duodenal ulcer reports that pain is
relieved by eating. This is typical of:
A) Gastric ulcer
B) Duodenal ulcer
C) Gastritis
D) Pancreatitis
Answer: B. Duodenal ulcer
Explanation: Duodenal ulcers often hurt when empty and
improve with food (buffering effect). Gastric ulcers often worsen
with food.
3. A patient is prescribed omeprazole (Prilosec) for GERD.
When should the nurse instruct the patient to take it?
A) At bedtime
B) With meals
C) 30-60 minutes before breakfast
D) When heartburn occurs
Answer: C. 30-60 minutes before breakfast
Explanation: PPIs work best on an empty stomach, 30-60
minutes before the first meal of the day.
4. A patient with a bleeding duodenal ulcer has a nasogastric
tube. The aspirate is coffee-ground. The nurse should:
A) Irrigate with iced saline
B) Notify the provider and prepare for endoscopy
C) Clamp the tube
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D) Remove the tube
Answer: B. Notify the provider and prepare for endoscopy
Explanation: Coffee-ground emesis indicates slow bleeding.
The provider needs to evaluate and likely perform endoscopy.
5. A patient with Crohn’s disease is most likely to have which
characteristic?
A) Continuous inflammation from rectum upward
B) Transmural inflammation with skip lesions
C) Only affects the colon
D) Bloody diarrhea is the primary symptom
Answer: B. Transmural inflammation with skip lesions
Explanation: Crohn’s disease is transmural, patchy (skip
lesions), and can affect any part of the GI tract. Ulcerative colitis
is continuous and superficial.
6. Which finding is more common in ulcerative colitis than in
Crohn’s disease?
A) Fistulas
B) Perianal disease
C) Toxic megacolon
D) Malabsorption
Answer: C. Toxic megacolon
Explanation: Toxic megacolon is a severe complication of
ulcerative colitis. Fistulas and perianal disease are more
common in Crohn’s.
7. A patient with acute diverticulitis is NPO with IV fluids.
Which assessment finding is most concerning?
ATI MED SURG GASTROINTESTINAL 2026
FINAL EXAM REVIEW COMPLETE (50)
CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS|GUARANTEED PASS.
GASTROINTESTINAL
Prepare confidently for the ATI Med Surg Gastrointestinal final Exam
review with targeted questions covering highest-yield
gastrointestinal concepts: GERD, peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory
bowel disease (Crohn’s & ulcerative colitis), diverticulitis,
appendicitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis. Designed to improve clinical
understanding and boost confidence in gastrointestinal nursing care.
Suitable for nursing and healthcare students.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Questions 1–50
1. A patient with GERD asks about lifestyle changes. Which
recommendation should the nurse make first?
A) Sleep flat on the back
B) Avoid eating 3 hours before bedtime
C) Increase intake of caffeinated beverages
D) Lie down immediately after meals
Answer: B. Avoid eating 3 hours before bedtime
, Page 2 of 20
Explanation: Lying down soon after eating increases reflux.
Elevating the head of the bed and avoiding late meals are key.
2. A patient with a duodenal ulcer reports that pain is
relieved by eating. This is typical of:
A) Gastric ulcer
B) Duodenal ulcer
C) Gastritis
D) Pancreatitis
Answer: B. Duodenal ulcer
Explanation: Duodenal ulcers often hurt when empty and
improve with food (buffering effect). Gastric ulcers often worsen
with food.
3. A patient is prescribed omeprazole (Prilosec) for GERD.
When should the nurse instruct the patient to take it?
A) At bedtime
B) With meals
C) 30-60 minutes before breakfast
D) When heartburn occurs
Answer: C. 30-60 minutes before breakfast
Explanation: PPIs work best on an empty stomach, 30-60
minutes before the first meal of the day.
4. A patient with a bleeding duodenal ulcer has a nasogastric
tube. The aspirate is coffee-ground. The nurse should:
A) Irrigate with iced saline
B) Notify the provider and prepare for endoscopy
C) Clamp the tube
, Page 3 of 20
D) Remove the tube
Answer: B. Notify the provider and prepare for endoscopy
Explanation: Coffee-ground emesis indicates slow bleeding.
The provider needs to evaluate and likely perform endoscopy.
5. A patient with Crohn’s disease is most likely to have which
characteristic?
A) Continuous inflammation from rectum upward
B) Transmural inflammation with skip lesions
C) Only affects the colon
D) Bloody diarrhea is the primary symptom
Answer: B. Transmural inflammation with skip lesions
Explanation: Crohn’s disease is transmural, patchy (skip
lesions), and can affect any part of the GI tract. Ulcerative colitis
is continuous and superficial.
6. Which finding is more common in ulcerative colitis than in
Crohn’s disease?
A) Fistulas
B) Perianal disease
C) Toxic megacolon
D) Malabsorption
Answer: C. Toxic megacolon
Explanation: Toxic megacolon is a severe complication of
ulcerative colitis. Fistulas and perianal disease are more
common in Crohn’s.
7. A patient with acute diverticulitis is NPO with IV fluids.
Which assessment finding is most concerning?
